Blazer (fabricated from navy blue wool on the exterior, with a poppy placed upon the left collar, a veterans group of six (consisting of the 1939-1945 Star (in bronze, measuring 16 mm (w) x 19 mm (h)), the Italy Star (in bronze, 18.5 mm (w) x 21.5 mm (h)), the France and Germany Star (in bronze, 18.5 mm (w) x 21.5 mm (h)), the Defence Medal (in cupro-nickel, measuring 18 mm in diameter), the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp (in cupro-nickel, measuring 18.5 mm in diameter) and the War Medal 1939-1945 (in cupro-nickel, measuring 18.8 mm in diameter), court-mounted with swing bar pinback, modern ribbons) pinned in place above the left breast pocket, a Royal Canadian Air Force blazer patch (in gold-coloured bullion wire with red, light blue and navy blue embroidery, touches of red, green and blue embroidery in the base of the crown, black threading giving definition to the eagle's wings and eye, red embroidery for the tongue and feet, on a navy blue wool base) sewn in place upon the left breast pocket, the blazer with two additional large pockets on either side at the waist, the front completed by a vertical row of two large brass buttons bearing the Shetland Clothes of Montreal insignia, facing an equal number of reinforced button holes on the left side, both sleeve cuffs have three brass buttons bearing the Shetland Clothes of Montreal insignia, single-vented at the rear, inside is lined in a greenish-blue polyester, with a pocket sewn in place on either side at the breast, a maker's label inscribed "Shetland Clothes Montreal" sewn in place on the lining overlying the right inside pocket, measuring 520 mm across the shoulders x 820 mm in length; Royal Canadian Air Force Pilot Badge (in red, white and brown embroidery, on a black wool base, black cotton backer, measuring 120 mm (w) x 46 mm (h)); Cap Eagle (in bronze gilt, unmarked, measuring 48.8 mm (w) x 14 mm (h), dual screwbacks); and Commission Document named to Pilot Officer Gerald Joseph Lauber (embossed seal and stamped signature of Governor General, Major General The Earl of Athlone at the upper left, service number inscribed "J27075" in black ink at the upper right, inscribed in running script: "George the Sixth, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India, Vc / To Our trusty and well-beloved Gerald Joseph Lauber Greeting! / We, reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage and good Conduct, do by these Presents Constitute and Appoint you to be an Officer in Our Active Air Force of our Dominion of Canada from the Eleventh day of June 1943. / You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge your Duty as such in the Rank of Pilot Officer or in such other Rank as We may from time to time hereafter be pleased to promote or appoint you to, of which a notification will be made in the Canada Gazette, or in such other manner as may for the time being be prescribed by Us in Council, and you are in such manner and on such occasions as may be prescribed by Us to exercise and well discipline, both the inferior Officers, and Men serving under you and use your best endeavours to keep them in good Order and Discipline. / And We do hereby Command them to Obey you as their superior Officer, and you to observe and follow such Orders as Directions as from time to time you shall receive from Us, or any of your superior Officer, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, in pursuance of the Trust hereby reposed in you. / In Witness Thereof Our Governor General of Our Dominion of Canada hath hereunto set his hand and Seal at Our Government House in the City of Ottawa this Ninth day of September in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Forty-Three and in the Seventh Year of Our Reign. / By Command of His Excellency The Governor General", signed by "James A. Sharpe G/C. Air Secretary for Minister of National Defence for Air", with the handwritten inscription in black ink "Pilot Officer Gerald Joseph Lauber / Royal Canadian Air Force / Special Reserve" at the lower left, printed in black ink, on a white linen stock, measuring 432 mm (w) x 355 mm (h), rolled, lightly soiled). Very fine.
Footnote: J.27027 Gerald Joseph Lauber achieved the rank of Pilot Officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force on June 11, 1943. Twenty-eight months later and the war having concluded, Lauber was a Temporary Flying Officer when he was transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force (Reserve) General Section, Class E on October 17, 1945, the announcement appearing in the Canada Gazette of Saturday, March 2, 1946, page 1108.